What is a mixed germ cell tumor?

Answer 1

Germ cell tumors are malignant (cancerous) or non-malignant (benign, non-cancerous) tumors that are comprised mostly of germ cells. Germ cells are the cells that develop in the embryo (fetus, or unborn baby) and become the cells that make up the reproductive system in males and females. These germ cells follow a midline path through the body after development and descend into the pelvis as ovarian cells or into the scrotal sac as testicular cells. Most ovarian tumors and testicular tumors are of germ cell origin. The ovaries and testes are called gonads.

They are rare, as only about 2.4 children in one million will develop one of these tumors in a given year. Germ cell tumors account for 4 percent of all cancers in children and adolescents under the age of 20 years.

Germ cell tumors can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. The most common sites for metastasis are the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and central nervous system. Rarely, germ cell tumors can spread to the bone, bone marrow, and other organs.

Embryonal carcinoma cells are malignant cells that are usually mixed with other types of germ cell tumors. They occur most often in the testes. These types of cells have the ability to spread to other parts of the body. When these cells are mixed with an otherwise benign type of tumor (mature teratoma), the presence of embryonal carcinoma cells will cause it to become malignant (cancerous).